Shahrukh Khan’s car damaged by VHP workers in Gujarat

Ahmedabad (PTI): Shouting slogans against Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan, VHP members threw stones at a parking lot of a luxury hotel here early today damaging his car in continuing protests against the shooting of his upcoming film “Raees” in Gujarat over his earlier remarks on “intolerance”.

The film’s crew members are staying in the hotel but the 50-year-old actor was not there at the time of the incident as he arrived here only this afternoon.

After an FIR for rioting and damaging property was filed in this regard in the evening, at least seven persons, claimed to be associated with the right-wing organisation Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), were detained, police said.

According to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) B U Jadeja, 8 to 10 persons threw stones in the open parking lot of Hyatt Regency Hotel on Ashram Road, where Shahrukh’s vehicle was parked, this morning and fled from the spot.

“As per the complaint lodged by the Security Officer of the hotel, 8 to 10 persons came on bikes and threw stones on cars parked in the open parking lot early this morning. Due to the stone pelting, windscreen of Shahrukh Khan’s car got damaged,” said Jadeja.

“We have learnt that Shahrukh Khan was not there in the hotel when incident took place. Some of his crew members, who have come here for shooting, were staying in the hotel. Shahrukh landed in the city this afternoon for the shoot,” he added.

The shooting is taking place in Bhuj.

Meanwhile, a video showing unidentified persons throwing stones inside the hotel also surfaced on social media platforms. In the video, they can be seen shouting slogans against Shahrukh and fleeing on bikes after throwing stones.

Gujarat unit of VHP claimed responsibility for the incident. The outfit’s State spokesperson Raju Patel said the detained persons are associated with VHP and threw stones on Shahrukh’s car as part of their ongoing protests against the actor.

Around 20-30 VHP activists had last week handed over a memorandum to Bhuj district officers and demanded withdrawal of the permission given for the shooting of the film. They protested outside the district Collector’s office pressing for the same demand and shouted slogans against the actor and also burnt and tore his posters.

In November last year, Shahrukh sparked a debate when he said during an interview that there was “extreme intolerance” in India.

However, the actor retracted his statements just a few days later, claiming his comments were “misconstrued”.

Just watch out – Our Marxist media and fake-secular groups will make this incident ten times bigger than JNU incident or a cleric openly issuing fatwa on TV for beheading kamalesha tiwari!!! Talk about third-world standards!!

Patel quota stir spearhead Hardik Patel has alleged that he was offered Rs 1,200 crore and a plum position in BJP’s national youth wing by the Gujarat government to withdraw the agitation seeking reservation for his community under the OBC quota last year.

What is really under threat is the Right of the Freedom of Speech guaranteed by our Constitution. By declaring people “anti-national” or “seditious” efforts are being made to abridge these rights.

Ironically Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan is the brand ambassador of the state and recently awarded Incredible India campaign.Is the voice of bollywood is suppressed or do they need another Kite festival?